Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/98

So] LEA delphia, 1793), Dr. Rush states the following mixture to be eminently calculated for render- ing s oes, &c. impermeable to water. One pound of liu:>eed-oil, eight ounces of mutton suet, six ounces of bees- wax, and four ounces of resin, are to be meked together ; and, while moderately- warm, to be applied both to the upper leather, and the soles of boots. — Dr. Rush remarks, that this cheap recipe was taken from The Complete Fisherman, a^work published during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 5 and has, for many years, been employed with great success by the iisht imen in Ame- rica. A patent was granted in 1794 to Mr. John Bellamy, for his new- invented method of making all kinds of leather water-prAof. — For this purpose, the patentee has con- trived two compositions, which are prepared in the following manner : First viethod : One gallon of nut-oil, and an equal quantity of poppy-oil, are to be mixed with three gallons of linseed-oil ; or, one gallon of nut, or poppy-oil, may be addfd to three of that ex- pressed from linseed : or, two gal- lons of the latter may be combined with one pi!:t of nut, and a siiuilar quantity of poppy-oil. These in- gredients (in the pioportions above mentioned, or such as the nature of the oil may require) are to be poured together in an iron-pot, and placed over a gentle fire : to each gallon of oil must be allowed one pound of vhite copperas, sugar of lead, cclcoihnr, or any other dry- ing substance. The whole is to remain for the space of six or seven hours over such a degree of heat, as it will bear without rising, tUl it become sutficicntly diy3 LEA when it may be taken off j and, a^ soon as it is cool, the compound will be fit for i.se. Second method: Gum resin, one pound; pitch, t:alf a pound; tar and turpentine, of each four ounces, are to be added to one gallon of the oils prepared according to the first method: these ingredients are to be well mixed with the O'l^, first by gently heating the whole mass, then increasing the fire, till the whole becoine thoroughly incor- porated. — The patent e specifies various proportions, m which the ingredients may be used ; but ex- peiience will be the best guide to ascertain them. When the oils, prepared conform- ably to the first method, or the gums, &:c. accorduig to the second, are surHciently cool, Mr. Bellamy direfts a brush to be dipped ia the preparation, which should be rubb- ed mto the leather. As soon as that article is thoroughly impreg- nated, it ought to be laid on an even board, and the superrluous matter removed from its surface. With respeit to sole leather, or si- milar thick substances, he.observes, that they should first be gently warmed ; the composition is then to be applied till they are fully satu- rated ; and, after being properly- dried in a warm place, tiiey will be ready for use. In ihe Memoirs of the Academy fif Sciences of Turin y fox: 17 ^9 > we meet with an interesting communi- cation by M. de St. Real 5 on the means of rendering leather (espe- cially that destined for soles) im- permeable to water, without dimi- nishing its strength. — This object, he conceives, may be elTetted, without any alteration in the usual method of tanning, by the common operations of currying 3 provided tile